Preparedness Is Focus Of Emergency Forum

Rev. Edward Kane of Holy Family Church and Can-arsie residents Liz and Lou Milisci.

A coalition representing more than 50 community and faith-based organizations last Friday hosted an Emergency Preparedness Forum updating local organizations on various emergency programs.

The event, called "We Are All Brooklyn - Ready For Anything," took place at Kingsbrook Medical Cen-ter and featured New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

It was cosponsored by Assembly-woman Rhoda Jacobs, Health Plus and Kingsbrook. The keynote address was delivered by Theresa Bischoff, CEO of the American Red Cross in Greater New York.

The focus of the event was to further inform local leaders about emergency preparedness and to show the efforts being made by Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) members, which is now part of the Federal Emergency Management Ad-ministration (FEMA).

Maps were distributed citing emergency evacuation areas, including those where storm surge sections are highlighted.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Officials noted the response of FEMA to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast and Natasha Pavlova, representing the federal agency spoke of the new, state-of-the art facilities available in the Northeast. Others spoke of the continuing coordination between emergency agencies.

Photos by Barry Fischer

Keynote speaker Theresa Bischoff, CEO of American Red Cross of Greater New York. Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum Minkin Ballroom at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical center was filled to capacity for the forum.

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